A new push is on to get more ethnic recruits into the legal, accountancy and banking world.

Lobby group Birmingham Professional Diver-City has made two new appointments aimed at encouraging more interest from the business community. The group has a new executive director in Richard Johnson and he is backed up by consultant Aaron Reid.

The organisation - set up in 2002 - supports the professional, financial and business support services sector to develop a proactive approach to managing race, equality and diversity.

A total of 78 firms are so far signed up, but Mr Johnson, aged 35, said his immediate focus was not necessarily to add to the list but to work with existing players to "tangibly improve their systems, procedures and approach to race equality in the workplace".

Mr Reid, aged 30, will concentrate on issues such as how recruitment companies - which supply many of the city's professional, financial and business support services sector firms - tackle diversity and equality.

"These are hands-on roles," said Mr Johnson.

"Our strategy over the next few months will be working with the business community to achieve tangible outcomes and to track the record of success in the sector. As a business case, it makes complete sense for employers to manage and value diversity. It helps when it comes to making a profit and ensuring long- term prosperity.

"Companies realise that by adopting a pro-active approach they can also recruit the best people. There is a huge emerging market with massive spending power and this is not currently reflected in the make-up of the workforce of our target sector."